“Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling“ (CASL) at 3 Tesla MRI for the assessment of increasing nCPAP – Pressure effect on cerebral perfusion

Purpose: Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) therapy is the treatment of choice for all kinds of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). The direct effect on cerebral blood flow (CBF) of this therapy was previously studied by invasive methods like DSC MRI (Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast MRT) or using radioactive tracers (99 mTc-HMPAO SPECT), and noninvasive by transcranial Doppler. These methods are limited in quantification and repeatability, and may limit the possibilities of an interindividuel comparison respectively. High field MRI, especially at 3 Tesla provides to possibility to measure no…